in relation to the registration, amalgamation and internal administration and regulation of registered organisations, including election processes, duties of officers and employees of those organisations, financial accountability and disclosure, democratic control and penalties for breaches.

Amends the certified agreement and freedom of association provisions of the

Workplace Relations Act 1996

to: nullify clauses in certified agreements that purport to require payment of bargaining services fees; and prohibit conduct designed to compel persons to pay such fees. Also contains application provisions.

to ensure that applications for orders to prevent unprotected industrial action are dealt with quickly and that, in dealing with applications, the Australian Industrial Relations Commission takes into account the undesirability of unprotected action.

to: list factors to be taken into account by the Australian Industrial Relations Commission when considering whether a negotiating party is not genuinely trying to reach agreement; and empower the Commission to make orders in relation to new bargaining periods. Also contains application provisions.

by: excluding certain classes of employees, including short-term casual employees; validating the operation of regulations purporting to exclude short-term casual employees (following a Federal Court decision invalidating these regulations) from the time the regulations were made to the commencement of the new termination provisions in this bill; and providing for payment, and indexation, of a lodgment fee for termination of employment applications; and Workplace Relations Regulations 1996 to repeal now invalidated provisions excluding certain classes of employees from termination of employment provisions. Also contains an application provision.

to: codify offences that amount to contempt of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission; create a new offence prohibiting the giving of false evidence to the Commission; update certain penalties; and insert legislative notes after certain provisions.